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THE DEERSLAYER
«We all know what Hurry’s friendship comes to! Let him have
his own way in everything, and he’s the best fellow in the colony; but ‘head him off,’ as you say of the deer, and he is master of
everything near him but himself. Hurry is no favorite of mine,
Deerslayer; and I dare say, if the truth was known, and his conversation about me repeated, it would be found that he thinks no
better of me than I own I do of him».
The latter part of this speech was not uttered without uneasiness. Had the girl’s companion been more sophisticated,
he might have observed the averted face, the manner in which
the pretty little foot was agitated, and other signs that, for some
unexplained reason, the opinions of March were not quite as
much a matter of indifference to her as she thought fi t to pretend. Whether this was no more than the ordinary working of
female vanity, feeling keenly even when it affected not to feel at
all, or whether it proceeded from that deeply-seated consciousness of right and wrong which God himself has implanted in our
breasts that we may know good from evil, will be made more apparent to the reader as we proceed in the tale. Deerslayer felt
embarrassed. He well remembered the cruel imputations left by
March’s distrust; and, while he did not wish to injure his associate’s suit by exciting resentment against him, his tongue was one
that literally knew no guile. To answer without saying more or
less than he wished, was consequently a delicate duty.
«March has his say of all things in natur’, whether of fri’nd
or foe», slowly and cautiously rejoined the hunter. «He’s one of
them that speak as they feel while the tongue’s a-going, and that’s
sometimes different from what they’d speak if they took time to
consider. Give me a Delaware, Judith, for one that refl ects and
ruminates on his idees! Inmity has made him thoughtful, and
a loose tongue is no ricommend at their council fi res».
101
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
«I dare say March’s tongue goes free enough when it gets on
the subject of Judith Hutter and her sister», said the girl, rousing
herself as if in careless disdain. «Young women’s good names are
a pleasant matter of discourse with some that wouldn’t dare be so
open-mouthed if there was a brother in the way. Master March
may fi nd it pleasant to traduce us, but sooner or later he’ll repent.
«Nay, Judith, this is taking the matter up too much in ‘arnest.
Hurry has never whispered a syllable ag’in the good name of
Hetty, to begin with»
«I see how it is – I see how it is», impetuously interrupted
Judith. «I am the one he sees fi t to scorch with his withering
tongue! Hetty, indeed! Poor Hetty!» she continued, her voice
sinking into low, husky tones, that seemed nearly to stifl e her in
the utterance; «she is beyond and above his slanderous malice!
Poor Hetty! If God has created her feeble-minded, the weakness
lies altogether on the side of errors of which she seems to know
nothing. The earth never held a purer being than Hetty Hutter,
Deerslayer».
«I can believe it – yes, I can believe that, Judith, and I hope
‘arnestly that the same can be said of her handsome sister».
There was a soothing sincerity in the voice of Deerslayer,
which touched the girl’s feelings; nor did the allusion to her beauty lessen the effect with one who only knew too well the power of
her personal charms. Nevertheless, the still, small voice of conscience was not hushed, and it prompted the answer which she
made, after giving herself time to refl ect.
«I dare say Hurry had some of his vile hints about the people of the garrisons», she added. «He knows they are gentlemen,
and can never forgive any one for being what he feels he can
never become himself».
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THE DEERSLAYER
«Not in the sense of a king’s offi cer, Judith, sartainly, for
March has no turn thataway; but in the sense of reality, why may
not a beaver-hunter be as respectable as a governor? Since you
speak of it yourself, I’ll not deny that he did complain of one as
humble as you being so much in the company of scarlet coats and
silken sashes. But ‘t was jealousy that brought it out of him, and
I do think he mourned over his own thoughts as a mother would
have mourned over her child».
Perhaps Deerslayer was not aware of the full meaning that
his earnest language conveyed. It is certain that he did not see
the color that crimsoned the whole of Judith’s fi ne face, nor detect the uncontrollable distress that immediately after changed
its hue to deadly paleness. A minute or two elapsed in profound
stillness, the splash of the water seeming to occupy all the avenues of sound; and then Judith arose, and grasped the hand of
the hunter, almost convulsively, with one of her own.
«Deerslayer», she said, hurriedly, «I’m glad the ice is broke
between us. They say that sudden friendships lead to long enmities, but I do not believe it will turn out so with us. I know not
how it is – but you are the fi rst man I ever met, who did not
seem to wish to fl atter – to wish my ruin – to be an enemy in
disguise – never mind; say nothing to Hurry, and another time
we’ll talk together again».
As the girl released her grasp, she vanished in the house, leaving the astonished young man standing at the steering-oar, as
motionless as one of the pines on the hills. So abstracted, indeed,
had his thoughts become, that he was hailed by Hutter to keep
the scow’s head in the right direction, before he remembered his
actual situation.
CHAPTER VI
«So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain,
Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair».
Paradise lost, I. 125—26.
Shortly after the disappearance of Judith, a light southerly
air arose, and Hutter set a large square sail, that had once been
the fl ying top-sail of an Albany sloop, but which having become
threadbare in catching the breezes of Tappan, had been condemned and sold. He had a light, tough spar of tamarack that he
could raise on occasion, and with a little contrivance, his duck
was spread to the wind in a suffi ciently professional manner.
The effect on the ark was such as to supersede the necessity of
rowing; and in about two hours the castle was seen, in the darkness, rising out of the water, at the distance of a hundred yards.
The sail was then lowered, and by slow degrees the scow drifted up to the building, and was secured.
No one had visited the house since Hurry and his companion left it. The place was found in the quiet of midnight, a sort of
type of the solitude of a wilderness. As an enemy was known to
be near, Hutter directed his daughters to abstain from the use of
lights, luxuries in which they seldom indulged during the warm
months, lest they might prove beacons to direct their foes where
they might be found.
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THE DEERSLAYER
«In open daylight I shouldn’t fear a host of savages behind
these stout logs, and they without any cover to skulk into», added
Hutter, when he had explained to his guests the reasons why he
forbade the use of light; «for I’ve three or four trusty weapons
always loaded, and Killdeer, in particular, is a piece that never
misses. But it’s a different thing at night. A canoe might get upon
us unseen, in the dark; and the savages have so many cunning
ways of attacking, that I look upon it as bad enough to deal with
‘em under a bright sun. I built this dwelling in order to have ‘em
at arm’s length, in case we should ever get to blows again. Some
people think it’s too open and exposed, but I’m for anchoring
out here, clear of underbrush and thickets, as the surest means of
making a safe berth».
«You was once a sailor, they tell me, old Tom?» said Hurry, in his abrupt manner, struck by one or two expressions that
the other had just used, «and some people believe you could give
us strange accounts of inimies and shipwrecks, if you’d a mind to
come out with all you know?»
«There are people in this world, Hurry», returned the other,
evasively, «who live on other men’s thoughts; and some such often fi nd their way into the woods. What I’ve been, or what I’ve
seen in youth, is of less matter now than what the savages are.
It’s of more account to fi nd out what will happen in the next
twenty-four hours than to talk over what happened twenty-four
years since».
«That’s judgment, Deerslayer; yes, that’s sound judgment.
Here’s Judith and Hetty to take care of, to say nothing of our
own top-knots; and, for my part, I can sleep as well in the dark as
I could under a noonday sun. To me it’s no great matter whether
there is light or not, to see to shut my eyes by».
105
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
As Deerslayer seldom thought it necessary to answer his companion’s peculiar vein of humor, and Hutter was evidently indisposed to dwell longer on the subject, it’s discussion ceased with
this remark. The latter had something more on his mind, however, than recollections. His daughters had no sooner left them,
with an expressed intention of going to bed, than he invited his
two companions to follow him again into the scow. Here the old
man opened his project, keeping back the portion that he had
reserved for execution by Hurry and himself.
«The great object for people posted like ourselves is to command the water», he commenced. «So long as there is no other
craft on the lake, a bark canoe is as good as a man-of-war, since
the castle will not be easily taken by swimming. Now, there are
but fi ve canoes remaining in these parts, two of which are mine,
and one is Hurry’s. These three we have with us here; one being fastened in the canoe-dock beneath the house, and the other
two being alongside the scow. The other canoes are housed on
the shore, in hollow logs, and the savages, who are such venomous enemies, will leave no likely place unexamined in the morning, if they ‘re serious in s’arch of bounties»
«Now, friend Hutter», interrupted Hurry, «the Indian don’t
live that can fi nd a canoe that is suitably wintered. I’ve done something at this business before now, and Deerslayer here knows
that I am one that can hide a craft in such a way that I can’t fi nd
it myself».
«Very true, Hurry», put in the person to whom the appeal
had been made, «but you overlook the sarcumstance that if you
couldn’t see the trail of the man who did the job, I could. I’m of
Master Hutter’s mind, that it’s far wiser to mistrust a savage’s ingenuity, than to build any great expectations on his want of eye-
106
THE DEERSLAYER
sight. If these two canoes can be got off to the castle, therefore,
the sooner it’s done the better».
«Will you be of the party that’s to do it?» demanded Hutter, in
a way to show that the proposal both surprised and pleased him.
«Sartain. I’m ready to enlist in any enterprise that’s not ag’in
a white man’s lawful gifts. Natur’ orders us to defend our lives,
and the lives of others, too, when there’s occasion and opportunity. I’ll follow you, Floating Tom, into the Mingo camp, on such
an arr’nd, and will strive to do my duty, should we come to blows;
though, never having been tried in battle, I don’t like to promise
more than I may be able to perform. We all know our wishes, but
none know their might till put to the proof».
«That’s modest and suitable, lad», exclaimed Hurry. «You’ve
never yet heard the crack of an angry rifl e; and, let me tell you, ‘tis
as different from the persuasion of one of your venison speeches, as the laugh of Judith Hutter, in her best humor, is from
the scolding of a Dutch house keeper on the Mohawk. I don’t
expect you’ll prove much of a warrior, Deerslayer, though your
equal with the bucks and the does don’t exist in all these parts.
As for the ra’al sarvice, however, you’ll turn out rather rearward,
according to my consait».
«We’ll see, Hurry, we’ll see», returned the other, meekly; so
far as human eye could discover, not at all disturbed by these
expressed doubts concerning his conduct on a point on which
men are sensitive, precisely in the degree that they feel the consciousness of demerit; «having never been tried, I’ll wait to know,
before I form any opinion of myself; and then there’ll be sartainty, instead of bragging. I’ve heard of them that was valiant afore
the fi ght, who did little in it; and of them that waited to know
their own tempers, and found that they weren’t as bad as some
expected, when put to the proof».
107
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
«At any rate, we know you can use a paddle, young man», said
Hutter, «and that’s all we shall ask of you to-night. Let us waste
no more time, but get into the canoe, and do, in place of talking».
As Hutter led the way, in the execution of his project, the boat
was soon ready, with Hurry and Deerslayer at the paddles. Before the old man embarked himself, however, he held a conference of several minutes with Judith, entering the house for that
purpose; then, returning, he took his place in the canoe, which
left the side of the ark at the next instant.
Had there been a temple reared to God, in that solitary wilderness, its clock would have told the hour of midnight as the party
set forth on their expedition. The darkness had increased, though
the night was still clear, and the light of the stars suffi ced for all
the purposes of the adventurers. Hutter alone knew the places
where the canoes were hid, and he directed the course, while his
two athletic companions raised and dipped their paddles with
proper caution, lest the sound should be carried to the ears of
their enemies, across that sheet of placid water, in the stillness of
deep night. But the bark was too light to require any extraordinary efforts, and skill supplying the place of strength, in about
half an hour they were approaching the shore, at a point near
a league from the castle.
«Lay on your paddles, men», said Hutter, in a low voice, «and
let us look about us for a moment. We must now be all eyes and
ears, for these vermin have noses like bloodhounds».
The shores of the lake were examined closely, in order to
discover any glimmering of light that might have been left in
a camp; and the men strained their eyes, in the obscurity, to see
if some thread of smoke was not still stealing along the mountainside, as it arose from the dying embers of a fi re. Nothing
unusual could be traced; and as the position was at some dis-
108
THE DEERSLAYER
tance from the outlet, or the spot where the savages had been
met, it was thought safe to land. The paddles were plied again,
and the bows of the canoe ground upon the gravelly beach with
a gentle motion, and a sound barely audible. Hutter and Hurry
immediately landed, the former carrying his own and his friend’s
rifl e, leaving Deerslayer in charge of the canoe. The hollow log
lay a little distance up the side of the mountain, and the old man
led the way towards it, using so much caution as to stop at every
third or fourth step, to listen if any tread betrayed the presence of
a foe. The same death-like stillness, however, reigned on the midnight scene, and the desired place was reached without an occurrence to induce alarm.
«This is it», whispered Hutter, laying a foot on the trunk of
a fallen linden; «hand me the paddles fi rst, and draw the boat out
with care, for the wretches may have left it for a bait, after all».
«Keep my rifl e handy, butt towards me, old fellow», answered
March. «If they attack me loaded, I shall want to unload the piece
at ‘em, at least. And feel if the pan is full».
«All’s right», muttered the other; «move slow, when you get
your load, and let me lead the way».
The canoe was drawn out of the log with the utmost care,
raised by Hurry to his shoulder, and the two began to return to
the shore, moving but a step at a time, lest they should tumble
down the steep declivity. The distance was not great, but the descent was extremely diffi cult; and, towards the end of their little
journey, Deerslayer was obliged to land and meet them, in order to aid in lifting the canoe through the bushes. With his assistance the task was successfully accomplished, and the light craft
soon fl oated by the side of the other canoe. This was no sooner
done, than all three turned anxiously towards the forest and
the mountain, expecting an enemy to break out of the one, or to
109
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
come rushing down the other. Still the silence was unbroken,
and they all embarked with the caution that had been used in
coming ashore.
Hutter now steered broad off towards the centre of the lake.
Having got a suffi cient distance from the shore, he cast his
prize loose, knowing that it would drift slowly up the lake before the light southerly air, and intending to fi nd it on his return. Thus relieved of his tow, the old man held his way down
the lake, steering towards the very point where Hurry had made
his fruitless attempt on the life of the deer. As the distance from
this point to the outlet was less than a mile, it was like entering
an enemy’s country; and redoubled caution became necessary.
They reached the extremity of the point, however, and landed in
safety on the little gravelly beach already mentioned. Unlike
the last place at which they had gone ashore, here was no acclivity to ascend, the mountains looming up in the darkness quite
a quarter of a mile farther west, leaving a margin of level ground
between them and the strand. The point itself, though long, and
covered with tall trees, was nearly fl at, and for some distance only
a few yards in width. Hutter and Hurry landed as before, leaving
their companion in charge of the boat.
In this instance, the dead tree that contained the canoe of
which they had come in quest lay about half-way between the extremity of the narrow slip of land and the place where it joined
the main shore; and knowing that there was water so near him on
his left, the old man led the way along the eastern side of the belt
with some confi dence walking boldly, though still with caution.
He had landed at the point expressly to get a glimpse into the bay
and to make certain that the coast was clear; otherwise he would
have come ashore directly abreast of the hollow tree. There was
no diffi culty in fi nding the latter, from which the canoe was
110
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